MDI ventilator dispenser with bi-directional nozzle

• US 5,474,058 A
• Filed: 11/30/1994
• Issued: 12/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thayer Medical Corp.
• Original Assignee: Thayer Medical Corp.
• Inventors: Lix, Joseph N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Srivastava, V.
• Application Number:
  US08/347,046
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.23, 128/200.18, 128/203.12, 128/203.25, 128/205.11, 128/203.23, 128/203.15, 128/203.21, 128/203.24, 128/200.21, 128/200.1 4, 222/402.2, 222/402.14, 239/545, 239/429, 239/8, 239/548, 239/373, 239/337, 239/338
• US Class Current: 128/200.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece

Abstract

A dispenser for medication from an MDI canister is connected into an inspiratory stream from a ventilator to the lungs of an intubated patient. The MDI canister valve is actuated so as to deliver a stream of medication-containing liquid propellant through a medication nozzle from which the liquid is simultaneously ejected in upstream and downstream directions through upstream and downstream exit ports, respectively. The two ejected streams of medication-containing liquid form expanding upstream and downstream plumes of rapidly evaporating medication-containing droplets. The upstream and downstream exit ports of the medication nozzle are sized such that few evaporating droplets of the expanding plumes reach the inner wall of the inspiratory path before they entirely evaporate. Therefore, a high percentage of medication particles become dry and are carried by the inspiratory air stream and efficiently delivered into the lungs of the patient.

Claims

1. A device for dispersing medication from an MDI canister into an inspiratory path between a ventilator and an endotracheal tube, comprising in combination:

(a) a body having a passage extending between an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet port and outlet port being adapted to couple the body into the inspiratory path;

(b) a nozzle port opening into a midportion of the body;

(c) a medication nozzle disposed in the nozzle port for dispensing aerosol medication from an MDI canister into the body, the medication nozzle including a head portion connected in sealed relation to the nozzle port and a stem portion having a receiving opening for receiving an output stem of an MDI canister, the stem portion being attached to the head portion, a channel extending through stem portion from the receiving opening to a first exit port for ejecting a downstream plume of medication containing droplets toward the outlet port along a longitudinal axis of the body and a second exit port for ejecting an upstream plume of medication containing droplets toward the inlet port along the longitudinal axis, the first and second exit ports being sized to cause medication-containing droplets in the first and second plumes to evaporate before reaching an inner wall of the inspiratory path.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second exit ports are axially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the body.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the body is composed of plastic.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein diameters of the first and second exit ports are approximately 0.4 millimeters.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the inspiratory path includes 22 millimeter ventilator tubing.

6. A method of dispensing aerosol medication from an MDI canister into an inspiratory air stream flowing through an inspiratory path between a ventilator and an endotracheal tube, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting an MDI ventilation dispenser into the inspiratory path, the MDI ventilation dispenser including a medication nozzle associated with the inspiratory path;

(b) inserting an outlet stem of the MDI canister into an inlet of the medication nozzle;

(c) actuating the MDI canister to force a dose of medication-containing liquid into the medication nozzle; and

(d) ejecting first and second streams of the medication-containing liquid from the MDI ventilation dispenser in opposite downstream and upstream directions, respectively, along a longitudinal axis of the MDI ventilation dispenser, the first and second streams expanding into a downstream plume of fast-evaporating droplets and an upstream plume of fast-evaporating droplets, respectively, to cause most droplets in the upstream and downstream plumes to evaporate before reaching the inner walls of the inspiratory path and thereby release dry medication particles into the inspiratory air stream.